Astral projection, or out-of-body experiences (OBEs), involve a person’s consciousness leaving their physical body to observe the world from an independent point of view. Mainstream science dismisses it as impossible, but around 14% of the population have reported experiencing it, sometimes during times of crisis. It can also occur during meditation, rest, or sleep. The CIA reportedly began its own astral projection research program in 1970, and renowned psychologist Charles T. Tart believes that scientific methodology should be applied to studying altered states of consciousness. Tart founded TASTE (The Archives of Scientist’s Transcendent Experiences) to further study OBEs and other psi phenomena.
Astral projection or astral travel refers to the supposed experience of a person’s conscious awareness leaving the physical body to observe the world from an independent, objective point of view. This is also referred to as an out-of-body experience (OBE).
Mainstream science dismisses astral projection a priori as impossible according to the laws of physics as they are currently understood. Instead, it is relegated to flights of imagination, dreams or hallucinations.
A surprising number of people – around 14% of the population according to many studies – have experienced astral projection or OBE. Sometimes it occurs in times of crisis. A common example involves near-fatal incidents in which the subject later reports floating above the body near the hospital ceiling, observing as an objective observer, listening to the actions and conversations of the medical personnel working below them. People who have recovered in these cases have reported seeing their doctors pronounce them dead, or requesting specific life-saving techniques later told and verified by those present. This is often referred to as a near death experience (NDE).
Apart from moments of crisis, astral projection can take place during meditation, in a trance, at rest or during sleep. Rather than hovering over their body, the individual may travel great distances, such as to other states or countries where loved ones are. Information or details gathered during the projection are sometimes said to have been subsequently verified by the subject whose physical body could not have directly perceived the information.
Edgar Cayce was believed to conduct medical diagnoses of needy victims from all corners of the world, all while in a trance on his couch at home. Many journalists, scientists and doctors of Cayce’s time investigated him expecting to discover a clever fraud, but instead came away convinced of his talents even if bewildered by any possible scientific explanation.
In 1970, the CIA, in cooperation with the Department of Defense, reportedly began its own then-undercover astral projection research program. They called it remote viewing and were interested in it as a possible means of surreptitiously obtaining information from enemies and engaging in psychic warfare. The name of the remote viewing program was originally SCANATE (which stands for Scan Coordinates). According to people involved in the project, Russell Targ and Harold Puthoff led the research team at the Stanford Research Institute. The organization that began as SCANATE became PSI TECH in 1989 and moved into the private sector, but continues to be run by ex-military members who were involved with it when it was still under the auspices of the DOD. In November 1991 the Associated Press reported that PSI TECH had been contracted by the United Nations to help find possible biological weapons in Iraq.
Internationally renowned psychologist Charles T. Tart distinguishes between science and scientism when it comes to working with altered states of consciousness and astral projection. He believes that parapsychology, including astral travel, is rejected because an attitude of dogmatic scientism precludes scientific study, instead creating the assumption that the experience cannot be real because it violates known physical laws. Dr. Tart believes scientific methodology should be applied rather than indulging in prejudicial attitudes.
Tart spent 40 years studying various states of consciousness. She has reviewed over 100 years of parapsychological research on the psi phenomenon, including astral travel and OBEs. His findings lead him to conclude that consciousness sometimes behaves in ways inexplicable by our current understanding of the laws of physics. And while many experiences can be dismissed as imagination, dream, or hallucination, he says there is a large body of empirical evidence that goes beyond all known explanations.
To further study out-of-body experiences, clairvoyance, telekinesis, and precognition, Tart founded TASTE (The Archives of Scientist’s Transcendent Experiences), where scientists can report OBE or psi personal experiences in an environment conducive to understanding the human mind . Contributions are posted anonymously out of deference to participating scientists, but part of the submission process involves verifying identity. These online archives can be read by anyone.
While science seeks understanding of the phenomenon among the recognized laws of nature, human experience can sometimes run uncomfortably ahead of science. For those who claim experiences such as astral projection, clairvoyance, telekinesis and precognition, scientific explanation does not appear to be a prerequisite. For those who dismiss them out of hand, scientific proof will always be a prerequisite. As science and technology advances, perhaps the nether regions of psi experience will become clearer to both parties.
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